Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Swinney need not apologise for Sinn Fein ‘links’ as IRA was not responsible for the deaths of any Scottish civilians in Scotland

johnrobertson834

I understand why the relatives of Scottish soldiers, often just boys at the time, will be upset by links with Sinn Fein but their anger would be better directed at the UK government and senior officers who sent them, ill-prepared, into a brutal civil war, in the first place. The UK has full diplomatic relationships with political parties of government in countries, from Ireland, through Kenya, to Israel and Malaysia, where similar young Scottish soldiers were sent, similarly ill-prepared, to die. Should we ask UK ministers to apologise? This is another media/opposition campaign, exploiting these parents and relatives in an … Continue reading Swinney need not apologise for Sinn Fein ‘links’ as IRA was not responsible for the deaths of any Scottish civilians in Scotland

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BBC Scotland’s report on one ‘senior’ doctor’s call for more obesity drug roll-out is ill-informed and one-sided contrary to their royal charter

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jabs to patients with obesity. The latest figures say one in three Scots are obese. Dr Mark Strachan is president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and says more people need access to what he calls the ‘astonishing drug.’ NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde says it’s looking into the prescribing of weight loss jabs (sic) Mounjaro and Wegovy. BBC Scotland‘s insert in BBC Breakfast this morning has the above. How strong is the evidence for Dr Strachan’s view which I note has not appeared widely in news media today? A ‘senior’ doctor you might think better qualified to … Continue reading BBC Scotland’s report on one ‘senior’ doctor’s call for more obesity drug roll-out is ill-informed and one-sided contrary to their royal charter

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Stephen Flynn already facing pressure on A96 dualling? Oh no he’s not because….

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From Collisions on the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness: FOI release Published 21 April 2026: The total number of collisions on the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness, broken into a table to reflect every financial year since 2021-22 From the post pandemic peak in 2023/2024 of fatal/very serious and total collisions, we can see a dramatic fall in 2024/2025, contrary to that claimed in the media report at the top here, and what seems likely to be a further fall in 2025/2026 with only 14 in 9 months. Continue reading Stephen Flynn already facing pressure on A96 dualling? Oh no he’s not because….

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Scottish Government has done more to support vulnerable young care leavers

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Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this: In the Guardian today, the above and: More than 100 young people have died after leaving the care of social services in England in the past year, according to data released by the government. In the year to April 2026 there were 106 reported deaths of care leavers, with 91 deaths reported in the 12 months before. Most of those who died were aged 16 to 21. Although a requirement to report these deaths was introduced in 2023, ministers believe the true figure is probably higher. Labour launched an urgent review into the deaths in April … Continue reading Scottish Government has done more to support vulnerable young care leavers

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Shocking latest US research finds 80 000 unnecessary breast and other cancers near nuclear power stations to further condemn Scottish Labour’s energy strategy

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From A national analysis of the impact of proximity to nuclear power plants on lung, breast and colon cancer mortalities in the U.S., 2000–2020 in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology [5.5 impact factor- which is good to strong for a science journal] published yesterday: Results Proximity to nuclear power plants was associated with elevated mortality from breast, colon, and lung cancers. From 2000 to 2020, an estimated 39,767 female deaths (95% CI: 9312–69,381), representing 2.01% (95% CI: 0.47–3.50%), and 38,124 male deaths (95% CI: 16,106–59,600), representing 2.33% (95% CI: 0.98–3.64%), were attributable to this proximity. Lung cancer … Continue reading Shocking latest US research finds 80 000 unnecessary breast and other cancers near nuclear power stations to further condemn Scottish Labour’s energy strategy

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Since 2007 SNP Government has built 73% more affordable homes than Labour Wales and 47% more than England

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From Housing shortages, targets and delays in delivery information: EIR release published yesterday: Information requested 1) Internal communications, briefing notes or guidance relating to how housing shortages, housing targets, or delays in delivery should be presented or communicated publicly. 2) Any records discussing media handling, messaging, or reputational risks relating to housing supply or development delays. From the period 1 January 2023 to present (19 March 2026). https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202600511694/ On pages 21/22 of the attached appendices: Continue reading Since 2007 SNP Government has built 73% more affordable homes than Labour Wales and 47% more than England

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The blind spot in researchers’ apocalyptic water shortages predictions – the 90% of the UK supply in Scotland

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In the Guardian today, the above and: Rainwater harvesting, the use of grey water in homes and an urgent campaign to reduce water usage across society are vital to prevent water shortages of 5bn litres a day by 2055, the government has been told. Without intervention, England will face severe water shortages in the coming decades, as climate change-induced weather patterns, population growth and the expansion of industries such as water-intensive datacentres put excessive demand on supplies and endanger life, according to a House of Lords report published on Thursday. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/21/england-harvest-rainfall-water-usage-shortages-house-of-lords-report There’s no mention of Scotland in the report and media operating … Continue reading The blind spot in researchers’ apocalyptic water shortages predictions – the 90% of the UK supply in Scotland

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Carole Ford again – some maths teacher, some educationist

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On Debate Night, Reform UK’s Thomas Kerr claimed that nearly 400 000 ‘voted for us.’ It was only 365 000, not so near. Then, ‘educationist’ and former head and maths teacher but a former parliamentary Lib Dem candidate too, Carole Ford, converted that 400 000 into ‘three quarters of a million‘ (750 000)! Rusty? Earlier Ford had repeated her trust in the OECD/Pisa tests which some suggest reveal a decline in standards in Scotland. which are sat right across developed countries, the OECD countries. Scotland’s standards have been on the slide since about 2004. Ford was a Heidie in Kilmarnock … Continue reading Carole Ford again – some maths teacher, some educationist

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Ferry fiasco as electric hydrofoil ferry contract awarded by UK Government and Orkney Council is ‘beset by issues’ and lasts only one year before ‘latest delay’ and safety concerns means return to builder for ‘upgrades’ to ‘alarm systems’

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Needless to say the BBC Scotland report on this plays the whole thing down and makes no accusations at all: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgpj13p5x1o The Orcadian is less restrained, with: Electric hydrofoil vessel to return to Belfast in latest blow to £15m project. Just over a year since electric hydrofoil ferry, Zevi 1, arrived in Orkney, the vessel is now to return to Belfast in the latest delay to the £15 million project to cut maritime carbon emissions. It has emerged this week that Zevi 1 will undergo a “system upgrade” at a facility in Belfast owned by its developers, Artemis Technologies. It is unclear when … Continue reading Ferry fiasco as electric hydrofoil ferry contract awarded by UK Government and Orkney Council is ‘beset by issues’ and lasts only one year before ‘latest delay’ and safety concerns means return to builder for ‘upgrades’ to ‘alarm systems’